The drive from St. Louis, MO to Carterville, MO covers 279.3 miles and takes about 5h 15m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, MO 96, Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 218.9 miles on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.67 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
139.7 miles from St. Louis, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
218.9 mi
3h 58m
MO 96
44.6 mi
54m
Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
2.7 mi
3m
Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
2.3 mi
3m
South Jefferson Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
Market Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
— 218.9 mi, about 3h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St. Louis, MO and Carterville, MO.
1
Start on Market Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Market Street
2
Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·South Jefferson Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward I 44 West
4
Merge onto I 44
2.3 mi·3 min·Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
5
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi·4 min·Officer Michael Barwick Memorial Highway
6
Continue on I 44
2.7 mi·3 min·Police Officer Robert Stanze Memorial Highway
7
Continue on I 44
3.5 mi·4 min·Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway
8
Continue on I 44; US 50
219 mi·3 hr 58 min·Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 57Toward MO 96: Avilla
10
Turn straight onto MO 96
45 mi·54 min·MO 96
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward MO HH: Carterville
12
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
US Historic 66
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139.7 miles from St. Louis, MO, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 218.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 61 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.7 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carterville, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving St. Louis, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from St. Louis, MO
This is one driving day of about 279.3 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from St. Louis, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor for about 218.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 278.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1 mi into trip|~2m in|South Jefferson Avenue
Turn left onto South Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 44 West
Navigation decision point
Toward I 44 West
3
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in|I 44 / Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 44 / Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
233.3 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Take the exit toward MO 96: Avilla
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 57
Toward MO 96: Avilla
4
278.5 mi into trip|~5h 13m in
Take the exit toward MO HH: Carterville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MO HH: Carterville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.67 one way
$87.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$47.94
$95.89
premium
$4.89
$53.75
$107.50
diesel
$5.61
$61.67
$123.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Tesla Destination Charger
Springfield, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Flying J EV Charging Station
Springfield, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Lebanon, Missouri
Electrify America
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Springfield, Missouri
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Dynamic EVC Charging Station Charging Station
Springfield, Missouri
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Springfield, Missouri
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination: 2
Other: 2
Electrify America: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.8
1
$29.33
$13.41
Efficient EV
69.8
0
$24.44
$11.17
EV Truck/SUV
111.7
1
$39.10
$17.88
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
St. Louis, MO
Afternoon
in St. Louis on Saturday
Local time
1:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 12 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:59AM CDT until April 20 at 5:30AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:59AM CDT until April 20 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Destination
Carterville, MO
Afternoon
in Carterville on Saturday
Local time
1:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Sunny
N 13 to 18 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:59AM CDT until April 20 at 5:30AM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 9:59AM CDT until April 20 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS St Louis MO
76°F
Waynesville, MO
140 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 15m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gateway Arch National Park
National Park
Gateway Arch National Park commemorates President Jefferson’s vision of a continental nation, the individuals and cultural groups who helped shape its history, St. Louis’ role in westward expansion, a...
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focuse...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 221.5
The young child known as the "Plant Doctor" tended his secret garden while observing the day-to-day operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George on his quest for...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 279.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 5h 15m drive with frequent turns across 279.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor is the longest continuous segment at about 218.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near South Jefferson Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 15m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (South Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 44 / Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 15m. Total distance: 279.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from St. Louis, MO to Carterville, MO covers 279.3 miles and takes about 5h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor, MO 96, Police Officer Ernest M. Brockman Sr. Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 139.7 miles from St. Louis, MO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.67 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 15m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (South Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 44 / Officer David Haynes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from St. Louis, MO to Carterville, MO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
